The month of July is recognized as Sarcoma Awareness Month, a time of the year for spreading awareness about sarcoma among the general public and in the medical community. An often-overlooked cancer in the oncology field, the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) is dedicated to getting the word out about this rare cancer and has a variety of resources available that you can use if you want to get involved.
About Sarcoma
Sarcoma is a term to describe any type of cancer that arises from mesenchymal cells. These cells are types of connective tissue which plays a major role in embryonic development. As a whole, these cancers in humans are relatively rare. Cancers which affect tissue such as bone, fat, muscle, blood vessels, and cartilage are all considered sarcomas. There are a great many types of this cancer; an example is soft tissue sarcoma, and even this type has a diverse array of sub-variants. Treating these cancers often takes a long time. Surgery is often an essential component of treatment, and chemotherapy can also provide significant benefit for many patients, such as those with osteosarcoma. Only about 15,000 new cases appear per year in the US. To learn more about sarcoma, click here.
Get Involved
During this year’s awareness month, the SFA will be posting regularly about the disease. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share their posts and get the word out.
Are you part of the sarcoma patient community? Have a story to share about the disease on social media? Don’t forget to tag the SFA (@CureSarcoma) and use the hashtag #SarcomaAwarenessMonth.
SFA also has awareness merchandise for sale, such as yard signs and more. Click here to get yours.
SFA’s national advocacy day (“hill day”) will be held on July 18. Click here to learn more about it.
You can also take part in the National Virtual Race to Cure Sarcoma which will help raise critical funding that will go towards vital cancer research. Click here to get involved.
Editor’s Note: Get Involved
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. WHATNEXT and its partners are interested in amplifying the voices of those from all identities and backgrounds. If you have a cancer journey to share, reach out here to learn more about how your voice can help spread awareness and inspire individuals from all walks of life.
cancer awareness rare cancer sarcoma
Last modified: July 2, 2024